Oklahoma State University Athletics
Photo by: Bruce Waterfield
Know Your Opponent: Missouri State
August 28, 2018 | Cowboy Football
STILLWATER - Coach Mike Gundy and the Oklahoma State football team open the 2018 season against a familiar foe when they face Missouri State under the lights of Boone Pickens Stadium on Thursday. The Cowboys and Bears have met seven times prior to this week, with the Cowboys winning all seven matchups between the programs.
Thursday's contest will mark Gundy and Cos. first meeting with their regional foe since 2014 though, and much has changed about both programs in the past three seasons. Here's a look brief look at what the Bears will be bringing to Stillwater this week:
Quarterback Peyton Huslig is the standout performer for a Missouri State squad that averaged more than 20 points per game last season. Huslig was the team's anchor, as he was his team's leading passer (1,981 yards and 9 touchdowns) and leading rusher (621 yards and four touchdowns).
If the Bears hope to find success in Stillwater though, it will likely rest on Huslig's ability to make plays, as MSU looks to work in an entirely new rotation of wide receivers after seeing their top four pass catchers from a year ago move on. The offensive line returns four starters from last season, but a slew of injuries has shifted the team's plans a bit and Thursday's matchup will provide a solid test for OSU defensive coordinator Jim Knowles' first game in charge.
Defensively, Missouri State returns nine starters, giving Coach Steckel and his staff plenty of talent to work with in 2018. In particular, Steckel has shown excitement about his current group of defensive lineman.
"It's the one thing we had to upgrade," Steckel said via the Springfield News-Leader. "We're expecting big things out of them. I'm very pleased with them up to this point."
Second-team All-Missouri Valley Conference linebacker Angelo Garbutt also returns and will be looking to improve on his two sacks and five quarterback hurries from a year ago.
All in all, Thursday's matchup at Boone Pickens Stadium looks to be a solid test for the Cowboys to open the season with. Kick off is set for 7 p.m. and the game will air on Fox Sports 1.
Thursday's contest will mark Gundy and Cos. first meeting with their regional foe since 2014 though, and much has changed about both programs in the past three seasons. Here's a look brief look at what the Bears will be bringing to Stillwater this week:
Quarterback Peyton Huslig is the standout performer for a Missouri State squad that averaged more than 20 points per game last season. Huslig was the team's anchor, as he was his team's leading passer (1,981 yards and 9 touchdowns) and leading rusher (621 yards and four touchdowns).
If the Bears hope to find success in Stillwater though, it will likely rest on Huslig's ability to make plays, as MSU looks to work in an entirely new rotation of wide receivers after seeing their top four pass catchers from a year ago move on. The offensive line returns four starters from last season, but a slew of injuries has shifted the team's plans a bit and Thursday's matchup will provide a solid test for OSU defensive coordinator Jim Knowles' first game in charge.
Defensively, Missouri State returns nine starters, giving Coach Steckel and his staff plenty of talent to work with in 2018. In particular, Steckel has shown excitement about his current group of defensive lineman.
"It's the one thing we had to upgrade," Steckel said via the Springfield News-Leader. "We're expecting big things out of them. I'm very pleased with them up to this point."
Second-team All-Missouri Valley Conference linebacker Angelo Garbutt also returns and will be looking to improve on his two sacks and five quarterback hurries from a year ago.
All in all, Thursday's matchup at Boone Pickens Stadium looks to be a solid test for the Cowboys to open the season with. Kick off is set for 7 p.m. and the game will air on Fox Sports 1.
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